There is a great need among public servants, academics and lawyers to use plain English ("Dear Mum" style) rather than high-flown language ("Yes Minister" style), even in official or legal papers. The former is much easier on the reader. In nearly every case it also saves a lot of syllables. Plain English therefore gives the reader less to read for the same amount of information. It is consistent with plain language to use technical terms for technical things — but not to burden your prose with fancy terms for everyday things.
In the left-hand column below, I have compiled a list of nearly two hundred terms that one often sees in official papers. I recommend switching to the terms in the right-hand column.
You needn't worry that getting rid of the left hand items will impoverish the language. This, for two reasons: first, none of the left-hand items has any literary merit; second, there are some 500,000 entries in The Oxford English Dictionary, and the non-use of 200 of them will hardly matter.
| Official ("Yes, Minister") language | Plain ("Dear Mum") language |
| a further meeting | another meeting |
| able to | can |
| above-mentioned | mentioned above |
| accordingly | so / therefore |
| additional | more |
| additionally | and |
| adjacent to | next to / near |
| advice has been received that | my officers have told me that |
| advise you that / of | let you know ... |
| aforementioned | mentioned before / mentioned above |
| all things considered | so / therefore |
| alter / alteration | change |
| amongst | among |
| anticipate | expect |
| approximately | roughly / about |
| as a consequence of | because of |
| as noted previously | as I have said (written) above |
| as soon as practicable | as soon as possible |
| as you would be aware | as you know |
| ascertain | find out / check |
| assist / assistance | help |
| at an early opportunity | soon |
| at this point in time | now / at present |
| at your earliest convenience | as soon as possible |
| attached hereto | attached please find |
| be applicable | applies |
| be in accordance with | accords with |
| by virtue of | under / because of |
| commence | start / begin |
| commencement | start / beginning |
| completion | end / finish |
| comprise | make up |
| concerning | about |
| concur | agree |
| concurrence | agreement |
| consequent | later |
| consequently | so / therefore |
| considerable amount of | a lot of / many / much |
| contiguous to | next to / near |
| conversely | but / on the other hand |
| currently | now / at present |
| dated | of |
| dispatch | send |
| due to | because of |
| e.g. | for example / for instance |
| emanating from | coming from |
| embark on | start |
| endeavour | try |
| et al | and others |
| etc / et cetera | and so on |
| experienced delays | there were delays / had delays |
| extremely | very |
| facilitate | enable / make possible |
| failed to | did not |
| falls within the responsibility of Bloggs | Bloggs is responsible for |
| familiarise you with | make you familiar with |
| for the duration of | during |
| for the purpose of | to / for |
| for your consideration | for your decision / for your information |
| forthwith | immediately |
| forward | send |
| further developments | more developments / new developments |
| a further meeting | another meeting |
| further to my letter concerning | I am writing again about |
| furthermore | and / also |
| hence | so / therefore |
| henceforth | from now on |
| hereby / herewith | here / please find |
| hereunder | below |
| however | but |
| I acknowledge receipt of | thank you for |
| I am advised that | my department tells me that |
| I am directed to advise you that | the (minister) has asked me to tell you that |
| I am grateful for | thank you for |
| I appreciate that | I understand that / I know that |
| I appreciate your | thank you for your |
| I can confirm that | (Leave it out.) |
| I consider that | I think that / I believe that |
| I refer to your letter dated | thank you for your letter of |
| I regret the delay / the delay is regretted | I am sorry for the delay |
| I trust this addresses your concerns | I hope this answers your points (questions) |
| I will be pleased to | I will be happy to |
| I wish to advise that | (Leave it out.) |
| I would appreciate it if | please / would you please / could you please |
| I would be grateful if | please / would you please / could you please |
| i.e. | that is |
| if so-and-so transpires | if so-and-so happens |
| in a timely manner | as soon as possible |
| in accordance with section 12 | under section 12 |
| in conjunction with | with / together with |
| in consideration of | for / because of |
| in excess of | more than |
| in keeping with | under |
| in order to | to |
| in relation to | about |
| in respect of / to | about |
| in situ | in place |
| in spite of the fact that | though / although |
| in terms of | in |
| in the course of | during |
| in the event of | if |
| in the majority of cases | in most cases |
| in the vicinity of | near |
| in this regard | (Leave it out.) |
| in this respect | (Leave it out.) |
| in toto | in total / altogether / all up |
| in view of the fact that | because |
| inform you of / inform you that | let you know |
| inter alia | among other things / among others |
| is applicable | applies |
| is dependent on / upon | depends on |
| is located in | is in |
| it appears to be the case that | it seems that |
| it is considered that | I think that / I believe that |
| it is incumbent on you | you should / you must / you need to |
| it is my considered view that | I think that / I believe that |
| it should be noted that | (Leave it out.) |
| locate | find / put / place |
| location | place |
| manner | way |
| Messrs A and B | Mr A and Mr B |
| negligible amount of | a little / a few |
| notify you / me | let you / me know |
| notwithstanding | despite / although |
| obtain | get |
| occurred | happened / took place |
| owing to | because of |
| paradigm | model |
| per annum | a year |
| pertains to | is about |
| please be advised that | (Leave it out.) |
| please do not hesitate to contact me / Bloggs | please contact (get in touch with) me / Bloggs |
| predominantly | mainly / mostly |
| previous | last / latest / earlier |
| previously | earlier |
| prior to | before |
| pro tem | for the time being |
| proceeded to (walk / drive) | walked / drove (started to walk / drive) |
| provide you with further information | let you have / give you more information |
| provided / providing | if |
| purchase | buy |
| pursuant to clause 12 | under clause 12 |
| rectify | fix / correct / repair |
| regarding | about |
| relating to | about |
| rendered | made |
| reply | answer |
| require | need |
| requirement | need |
| respond / response | answer |
| retain | keep |
| reveal | show / tell |
| review the matter | look at the matter again |
| should it be necessary | if necessary |
| Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Bloggs | If you need more information, please get in touch with Bloggs (Or leave it out.) |
| should you wish to | if you want to / if you like |
| significant amount of | a lot of / much / many |
| status quo | as is / the existing state |
| subsequent to | After |
| subsequently | Later |
| substantial amount of | a lot of / much / many |
| tacit understanding | informal / unstated / understanding |
| take the matter up with Bloggs | contact Bloggs about the matter |
| the delay (the mistake) is regretted | I am sorry for the delay (the mistake) |
| thereby | because of this |
| thus | so / therefore |
| transmit | Send |
| transpire | Happen |
| unable to | Cannot |
| undertake to do so-and-so | will (must) do so-and-so |
| upon | on |
| utilise | use |
| verify | check / confirm |
| via | through / by way of |
| viz | namely |
| whereas | because |
| whilst | while |
| with a view to | to |
| with due regard for (something) | taking (something) into account |
| with immediate effect | straight away / immediately |
| with reference to | about |
| with regard to | about |
| with respect to | about |
| you may care to | you might like to |
| you will be required to | you need to / you should / you must |
| your letter of the 20th instant | your letter of 20 May |
